Yarn processing apparatus



0. V. DRTINA YARN PROCESSING APPARATUS Sept. 20, 1960 Filed May 15. 1956United States Patent YARN PROCESSING APPARATUS Otto V. Drfina, 11426Clifton Blvd, Cleveland, Ohio Filed May 15, 1956, Ser. No. 585,116

6 Claims. (Cl. 68-19) This invention relates to new methods ofcontinuous aftertreatment and to means for rapid continuous processingof freshly spun yarn such as rayonv By the terms processing andaftertreatment I mean the usual wet treatment such as desulphurization,Washing, bleaching, resin-pigment dyeing, plasticizing and drying.

It is a well known fact that most of the present continuously workingspinning machines have one common disadvantage, i.e. slow speed ofoperation due to centrifugal force acting upon the yarn and liquids onsurfaces of rapidly rotating reels or cylinders; the liquids fly off thecircumference at more rapid speeds, resulting in poor and ineflicientoperation. Most of known continuous units Work between 60 and 120yards/min. and that is the prior art limit.

It might be mentioned, that already known are rapid means for conveyingand processing yarns but not for what I term continuous processing.Attention is called to United States Patent 2,680,084 describinghydraulic conveying for rubber threads and the like, permitting-only onetreatment, or two together at most, and no dyeing. This does not solvethe complicated problem of chemical treatment of synthetic fibers likerayon with several chemical operations to be performed in succession, toprovide a product ready-for-sale.

In case of processing synthetic textile fibers like viscose rayons,requiring as much as nine successive operations, a new conception isneeded.

An object of the present invention is to provide means enabling anynumber of multiple chemical treatments of freshly spun yarn to beperformed rapidly in succession.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent and the invention maybe better understood from consideration of the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of apparatus according to the invention andcomprising an inclined cylinder and a feed reel and a drying reel; Fig.2 illustrates amodification in which the cylinder is made up of coaxialseparate sections; and Fig. 3 illustrates a modified type of dryingreel, in this case comprising two rollers with their axes inclined.

No efiort is made herein to describe the stretch-spin equipmentindicated generally at 2 in Fig. 1, for spinning and coagulating yarn 1,as it is described in my copending application Serial No. 603,707 filedAugust 13, 1956.

Also omitted is a detailed description of a lower stretching reel 3,which is covered separately in the above mentioned copendingapplication.

Furthermore I do not bother herein to describe in detail the drive ofthe whole machine through shafting 4, 16, 73 and 74 and also a shaft fordriving spinning pumps. All this is fully described in separate patentapplication now copending as continuation-impart applicationSerial No.662,543, filed May 29, 1957, and for a complete description of .finaltwisting and coning spindle indicated generally at 87, reference may behad to my copending Patented Sept. 20, 1960 continuation-impartapplication Serial No. 624,249, filed November 27, 1956.

Referring further to Fig. l, a yarn processing device according to thepresent invention comprises an inclined rotating cylinder 29, of whichthe inner part is used for hydraulic conveyance and processing of yarn.This rotat ing cylinder is supported by bearings 27 and 28, held inhousings 26.

The whole'assembly is shown arranged on a channel 23, resting on twobeams .24 and 25.

Power is transmitted to each cylinder from shaft 16, .over worm gearing15, arranged in a split-housing 21, 22. As shown, apart of 21 is boltedto cross-member 23, and a shaft .20 extends along the whole length of23, and the shaft is used to drive various parts of the processingdevice at different speeds.

The cylinder is driven by a timing belt 31, running over sheave 30,arranged on shaft 20, and over sheave 32, on cylinder 29. On the outerside of worm'gearing 15, to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, there isarranged a timing belt drive 18, over sheaves 17 and 19; the lattersheave is fastened with respect to a feed-reel 12, rotating on astationary tube 14, fastened in a bracket 13, which is bolted to housing21 for easy removal of the tube assembly 14.

The feed reel 12 extends partly into the'cylinder 29 and it takes yarnfrom reel 3 and conveys this freshly spun yarn into the normallyrotating processing cylinder 29 where, in order to ensure automaticthreading, there is provided a nozzle 72, for introducing a first liquiddirectly to yarn advancing feed-reel 7.2, to force the yarn off the reeland thus onto the inner circumference of cylinder 29 where it is caughtand held by centrifugal force while advanced in spirals as latermentioned.

To prevent liquid intermixture the main processing cylinder 29 isdivided into several individual processing divisions separated bypluralities of tiny outlet holes 92 around the circumference. Next tothose holes and placed on theouter part of the cylinder are rubber rings59 of triangular section, enabling the liquids to flow into stationarycircular channels 60, properly shaped to prevent loss of liquids exceptby way of pipes 62 and 66 by gravity and into collecting piping 677-1.Adjacent each group of outlet holes 92, there is located an inclinednozzle 58, held by a holder 53, delivering treating liquid slightlydownhill, and thus processwise after, the respec tive ring or set ofopenings.

A drying and thread advancing reel 35 is arranged partly inside ofcylinder 29. As shown it may have its own separate shaft 34, rotating ina housing 33 and driven from shaft 20 by a timing belt drive 36, 37 and38. The housing is secured on channel 23, and drive 36-33 is coveredwith cover 39. The drying reel maybe heated through coil, arrangedinside in regular way. Inlet of steam may be arranged through a pipe 4i;with condensate led out by a pipe 42; with each fluid passing through arotary seal 40 on outer end of rotating shaft 34,

In order to enable selfthreading-of yarn 1 onto the drying reel 35, asthe yarn leaves the processing cylinder 29 there is arranged afunnel-like member 45', rotating in a bearing 46 which is held in abracket 47, secured as by bolts (not shown) on channel 23. This memberhas its own timing belt drive 48, 49 and 50, derived from shaft 20.

In order to use the extracted plasticizing liquid from the yarn again,there is arranged an outer stationary ring 52, secured through a holdingmember 61 on channel 23, while piping 66, from the lowest point of thering '52, conducts said plasticizer into'a pipe-line 67.

Thus all liquids, including the wash-waters, are recirculated and may betaken back to inlet tubes for various liquids such as those shown at 54,55, 56, 57 and 72.

Finally, and,,for example, under the cylinder 29 and associate reel 35as viewed in Fig. 1, there is arranged a twisting and coning deviceindicated generally at 87, as already mentioned.

' There is thus pr ovided a device of the character described. Insteadof the inclined tube 29 being unitary, though provided in places forexhaust of each respective liquid through orifices 92 around thecircumference, as 7 shown by Fig. l, the arrangement of Fig. 2 may beused with the yarn advancing cylinder comprising a number of coaxialsections 94, 95, 96 firmly joined end to end but permitting liquidleakage through the joints so that any former liquid can escape and newliquid introduced at an angle will push the yarn coils forward anddownwardly into another section.

While Fig. 1 shows a drying advancing reel based on one known principle,there are other thread advancing means usable for drying, such as a pairof heated rollers 97 and 98, set slightly at an angle, as shown in Fig.3.

How it works: Spun and coagulated yarn [is regenerated and stretched instretch-spinning funnel 2, and elutriated by wash-Water from a source 9'acting on advancing reel 3. 'From there the yarn goes over the threadadvancing reel 12, arranged partly inside of main processing cylinder29. This reel 12 preferably has a larger circumferential speed thanreel3 to perform the desired amount of additional stretch.

At a predetermined point on'the reel 12, there is introduced a firstdcsulphurization liquid treatment through tube 72 in such an amount/cowash the yarn 01f the reel '12 and to ensure proper hydraulic advancingin the inclined cylinder 29. Speed of cylinder 29 is slightly less thanthe circumferential speed of the reel 12, to enable recovery after thestretch and proper formation of yarn spirals. When the liquid and yarnreach the first row of orifices in cylinder, the advancing liquid flowsout through them, leaving the yarn inside, causing its spirals tocompress closely together. Immediately after the orifices, wash water isintroduced through conduit 54 and its inclined nozzle 58, causing thepushing of spirals ahead and further liquid-conveyance to next exchange,which may be bleaching, then washing, and finally plasticizing. Eachliquid, even the wash-waters are collected and recirculated after properregeneration.

It was formerly a customary practice, to let only drops of emulsion fallon continuously moving yarn. According to the present invention a farsuperior method is used,

i.e. dispersion of emulsion in water and yarn soaked thoroughly in thisbath, resulting in even plasticizing effect. After the plasticizertreatment, the yarn with some liquid leaves the rotating cylinder and bycentrifugal force enters a rotating circular groove of funnel 45, whichpreferably rotates with an innerperipheral speed greater than the normalspeed of the yarn at this point, so the end of yarn is positivelywrapped around. the drying reel 35. Excess of plasticizing liquidis'extracted into stationary collecting ring 52, through orifices 51 ingroove of part 45. When desired, there can be arranged freely rotatingsqueezing soft rubber roll not shown at the end of main processing body,so yarn will enter the drying reel with least amount of liquid;furthermore said squeezer roll acts as means for proper feed of yarnonto the drying reel at rate as being advanced. Preferably the dryingreel has same or slightly larger circumferential speed, than the innerperiphery speed of member 29, to ensure steady yarn-advancing withoutinterruption.

- The yarn after being dried, has tendency from centrifugal force actingupon it, to leave the periphery of said reel. But the free end of yarn,when touching the inner part of faster rotating funnel 45 is kept underlight tension, keeping the yarn on the circumference of reel 35, to theend of 45. i

7 The rollers 97 and 9 8 of Fig. 3 occupy approximately the same spaceas, and can be easily interchanged for, the reel 35 shown on Fig. I.Said rollers, set somewhat under angle, should have about the same or aslightly higher yarn touching periphery speed than cylinder 29.Selfthreading is performed in similar way, as before and free end ofyarn, being dragged by cone 45 always little ahead of speed of yarn,assures the overwrapping for example up to a stop-pin 100, limitingfurther advance of yarn. From there the yarn is picked and threadedmanually through pigtail'91 onto the cone 87, on which the propertraversing is done by rotating and traversing cap, so proper shape ofcone is formed at very high constant linear speeds safely and withoutregard if the cone is empty or full. 7

With operation of apparatus according to the present invention yarnspeeds of 250 to 500 yards per minute can be achieved.

The device herein shown and described does not limit the full scope ofthe invention and various modifications are possible without departingfrom the general idea. For instance, instead of one cylinder comprisingall the needed chemical treatments, various processing can be separatedon individual cylinders with inner conveying and instead of feed-reel,other type or godet wheel might be used. Also the drying,thread-advancing reel can be substituted for, as with a pairof heatedrollers 97 and 98 set under slight angle, to enable thread advancing.

I claim: i

1. Yarn advancing and treating apparatus comprising at leastone hollowcylinder arranged to be rotatable about an inclined axis, athread-advancing reel arranged to advance yarn into the cylinderadjacent its uppermost end, means for driving said reel and saidcylinder at predetermined rates of speed such that the inner peripheralspeed of the cylinder is slower than the peripheral speed of the reel,first liquid-introducing means pointed toward yarn upon the reel forintroducing a first treating liquid and to cause the yarn to leave thereel and form helically upon the slower moving inner periphery of thecylinder, means including openings through the cylinder for allowingsaid first liquid toescape from the yarn and from the interior of thecylinder due to centrifugal force, second liquid-introducing meanspointed toward the yarn within the cylinder downwardly of said meansincluding openings and for introducing a second treating liquid to theyarn, and means for allowing said second liquid to escape from the yarnand from the cylinder due to centrifugal force.

2. Yarn treating apparatus comprising an inclined rotatable cylinder,means located adjacent the uppermost end of said cylinder and forintroducing yarn so as to lay helically upon the inner surface thereof,plural means spaced axially along the cylinder and for introducing otherliquid, axially spaced rotatable deflecting rings on the exterior of thecylinder and cooperating stationary collecting channels to furtherprevent liquid intelmixture and permit re-use thereof, and drying meansfor collecting, drying, and advancing the yarn adjacent the lowermostend of said, cylinder.

3. Yarn treating apparatus as in claim 2, furthercharacterized by thecylinder comprising axially separate sections assembled as one rigidunit but with openings between sections to provide for the leakagepathsfor the successive liquids. A

4. Yarn treating apparatus as in claim 2, further characterized by thecylinder comprising axially spaced rings of outlet holes'passingradially through the hollow cylinder body to providethe leakage pathsfor successive liquids.

the cylinder comprising a reel arranged coaxially with the cylinder andhaving one end extending therein, a coaxial funnel surrounding a centralportion of the reel between the lowermost end of the cylinder and theopposite end of the reel, and drive means for driving the reel to have aperipheral speed substantially the same as the speed of the innerperiphery of the cylinder while driving the funnel to have an innerperipheral speed greater than the peripheral speed of cylinder and reel,whereby to assure proper advance of yarn adjacent said cylinderlowermost end.

6. Yarn treating apparatus as in claim 2, further characterized by thedrying means at the lowermost end of the cylinder comprising a pair ofheated rollers having non-meeting axes inclined, each with respect tothe other, and each with respect to the axis of the cylinder, and afunnel-like rotating member arranged around a portion of said rollersfor carrying the yarn from the main processing cylinder and acting as aself-threading device for the rollers.

Ryan June 1, 1954 Stanley May 3, 1955

